A complaint has been lodged with the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Hon Betty Kamya regarding the recent appointment of Eng. James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa as the Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
The complaint, filed by George Ahimbisibwe, a whistleblower claims that the appointment was conducted illegally.
According to a letter dated May 14, written by Mr Ahimbisibwe’s legal representatives Wanambugo and Co. Advocates, the UNBS advertised the position of Executive Director on January 5, 2024. Following the advertisement, six candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
The National Standards Council subsequently recommended the top two candidates to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives for the appointment, in accordance with Section 11 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act as amended.
However, it is alleged that the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives bypassed the council’s recommendations and appointed a candidate who was not among those recommended.
Mr Ahimbisibwe contends that this action is illegal and violates the UNBS Act, which mandates that the minister must act in accordance with the board’s recommendations.
The letter requests the IGG to intervene and investigate the alleged illegal appointment.
This development has sparked a debate about the transparency and legality of high-level appointments within government agencies.
Stakeholders are closely watching how the IGG will respond to these allegations and the potential implications for governance and accountability in the public sector.
For now, the appointment of Eng. James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa remains under scrutiny, as the concerned parties await a response from the IGG.
